"Washington UpdateMarch 18, 2019Politicians are quick to grab onto the thinnest branches of hope andreluctant to release their grip, often holding on long after all reason foroptimism has withered. This is especially true when the belief that aterrible situation has suddenly gotten better makes it possible to avoidmaking difficult decisions.

This is happening today in Washington regarding Ethiopia. Members ofCongress and State Department officials were pleased that a new PrimeMinister was releasing political prisoners, dissolving tensions with Eritrea,and inviting old foes to return and participate in a democratic renewal. Allof this happened with little or no assistance from the United States, andwithout the American government having to make tough choicesbetween promoting human rights and propping up an ally in the war onterrorism.

Now the bitter rivalries and pathologies created by governments thatruled through the politics of hate are again tearing Ethiopia apart. As thecountry crumbles, Prime Minister Abiy has remained silent. His silenceand dithering speak much more loudly than words could.

Despite the massive scale the disaster – ethnic cleansing in Ethiopia ona scale and at a speed that surpass the Rohingya exodus fromBangladesh and internal displacement that dwarfs the horrors of Syria –there has been little notice in Washington and so far no attempt byCongress or the Trump administration to alleviate the suffering. Theviolence has left more than eight million Ethiopians desperately in needof food aid.

The Oromo Liberation Front has acted with impunity, robbing banks,pillaging and beating people in Wolega and other Ethiopian provinces.

The Oromo Democratic Party is trying to take control of Addis Ababa,and to force Amharas, other ethnic people from the capital city.The government of Ethiopia lead by Prime Minister Abiy must maintainpeace and the rule of law for all Ethiopians. It is very important for thesurvival of the country.

The system of ethnic federalism was troubled with internalinconsistencies because ethnic groups do not live only in a discrete “homeland” territory but are dispersed across the country. Nonnativeethnic minorities live within every ethnic homeland.

Prime Minister Abiy can achieve real progress if Ethiopia embrace adifferent kind of federation territorial and not ethnic — where rights in afederal unit are dispensed not on the basis of ethnicity but on residence.Such a federal arrangement will give Ethiopians a chance to avoidauthoritarian dictatorship.

Today’s tragedy for Ethiopia could quickly become America’s and theworld’s disaster if a proud nation disintegrates into the world’s mostpopulous failed state.

The U.S. government, and governments in Europe and elsewhere, mustfocus their attention on Ethiopia. Once again it will be necessary to feedthe hungry. But more important, action must be taken to bolster braveEthiopians who are willing to struggle to halt the slide into anarchy andpoverty.Mesfin Mekonen"